ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

Reviews of "Man At The Piano"

"Brenner's music, full of soul and virtuosity, shines on this album. Rife with spontaneous energy, Man At the Piano's twelve tunes are engaging and entertaining...Brenner's versatile playing distinguishes him throughout; his mastery of a variety of blues and jazz styles is perhaps the most impressive aspect of his playing." -- Eric Robinson, BC Magazine, May 1997

"There are so many criteria for saying whether you like a certain musical act or piece of music. At this point in my life, I have heard so many artists try to dazzle me with one thing or another -- technical prowess, angst in their souls, an ironic worldview, sheer volume and obnoxiousness -- that it's a delight to find the likes of Craig Brenner. If you've heard him, you know what I mean -- a guy who's completely at peace with what he's chosen to do with his gifts. Brenner can clearly address, in conversation or in song, the great American piano traditions with authority. He's taken the New Orleans barrelhouse approach as his main ingredient, added dashes of boogie-woogie and New York-type stride piano, and seasoned the results with suggestions of Tin Pan Alley and raw Texas blues. When he serves this up on his platters, he does it in his characteristically unassuming manner." -- Barney Quick, Out & About, May 22, 1997

"All (the selections) are performed with a light, swinging touch that recalls the easygoing sophistication of a bygone era." -- Living Blues Magazine, Sept./Oct. 1997

"Easygoing set of blues, jazz, and Professor Longhair standards, with a few originals, too. Mix of solo and accompanied piano makes for good listening all around." -- Blues Access, Fall '97

"We're treated to a mix of solo pieces and songs with backing by a band including Gordon Bonham on guitar, Jeff Chapin on drums and Steve Johnson on bass...Some time ago Craig Brenner played at the Piano Stage of the Blues Festival in Cincinnati, along with two European players - Philippe Lejeune and Jean-Pierre Bertrand. I wonder if some of our promotors will have the common sense to have a 'piano stage' at his festival, so that we can see and hear people like Craig Brenner here on stage. That's called wishful thinking, or even better, utopia." -- Marc Nolis, Hogtown Rhythm & Roots News Magazine, Belgium, Sept./Oct. 1997

"Ideal late night listening...a wonderful set of music that has that sense of blues and jazz cool one only finds in 50/60's records. A real gem." -- Al Handa, Delta Snake Blues News

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